MONROE — Gov. Tony Evers has proposed a crackdown on impaired driving, as Green and Lafayette County see plenty of examples of the crime, including a Lafayette County Driver recently charged with his 13th OWI.
In a change submitted as part of a long-term spending proposal, Evers wants those convicted of driving while intoxicated would have to use ignition interlock devices. Evers also is calling for an increase in minimum sentence a sentencing court is required to impose for a person convicted of a 5th or sixth OWI offense, with some judicial discretion, from 6 months to a minimum sentence of 18 months in prison.
“Too many Wisconsinites have experienced the consequences of drunk driving firsthand and it continues to be a concerning issue across our state,” said Evers, in a statement. “It’s an important issue and we have work to do to combat drunk driving so we can keep our communities safe.”
The governor’s proposal is to make the local court systems mandate use of the devices, which ensure a car or truck only starts if the driver passes a breathalyzer. The GOP in the state also favors some use of them.
Under current Wisconsin law, an ignition interlock device is only required for repeat convictions of operating while intoxicated, first-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher; and all drivers who refuse to provide a breath or blood sample during a traffic stop.
Peter J. Fagan, the Lafayette driver in court recently with more than a dozen OWI charges, isn’t alone in racking up multiple convictions. An Albany man was arrested for his sixth driving under the influence charge in January, following a one-car crash. It’s not altogether uncommon for drivers to log their third or even fourth offense.
Green County State’s Attorney Craig Nolen said he generally favors tougher DUI laws to protect the motoring public. But he said the IID program can be difficult for cash-strapped counties to implement.
“We don’t want to see people with 13 or 5 [OWI’s],” said Nolen, adding that fortunately most drivers get the message or get off the road before getting arrested that many times.
What’s more, he said a 5th defense can lead to a 1.5-year prison sentence, which also discourages repeated crimes.
“The biggest change needs to be to the culture of drinking and driving,” said Nolen.
Evers will formally introduce the measure as part of his 2023-25 biennial budget proposal on Wednesday. In 2019, data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation showed that nearly 500,000 Wisconsin drivers have logged at least one OWI conviction.
Nearly 2,000 people were killed in crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver in Wisconsin from 2009-2018, according to the state Dept. of Transportation. Between 2019 and June 2021, 36,191 drivers were been ordered to install an IID, number likely to skyrocket if the tougher law is enacted.